List
Log in 
With New Year’s Eve less than 3 months away, you may be thinking of booking a last minute escape where you can ring in the New Year. Whether you have in mind, street parties, fireworks or a peaceful break in nature, the UK is home to a great range of options for New Year’s breaks. From big celebrations in cities like London and Edinburgh, to tranquil countryside escapes, here are some of the best UK destinations for New Year’s celebrations. Watch our video for inspiration or read our hints and tips below.
1. Edinburgh, Scotland for Iconic Hogmanay Celebrations
The Scots know how to party and to truly celebrate the New Year; Hogmanay is a big event up in Scotland. The capital city of Edinburgh is famous for its New Year celebrations, which extend over three days. The festivities centre around Edinburgh Castle, which serves as a dramatic backdrop for spectacular firework displays. Expect street parties, live music, and ceilidh dancing over the festive period in Edinburgh. Don’t miss the impressive sight of the Torchlight procession on the 30th of December, where people walk through the city with blazing torches. For a mixture of history, culture, and a great party atmosphere, Edinburgh is one of the best places to be for New Year’s.
2. Eryri, North Wales, Bring in the New Year Under a Dark Sky
If you prefer to stay away from the big party atmosphere of the cities and instead prefer to be more at one with nature, book a stay in Eryri (also known as Snowdonia National Park) in North Wales. Rent a rural retreat or a lodge here, step outside on New Year’s Eve and you may not see fireworks, but you will be able to gaze upon the magical display of the stars in the sky above. Eryri is a designated Dark Sky Reserve, so is one of the very best places in the UK to do a bit of stargazing. On New Year’s day, you can enjoy walks and hikes amongst the stunning mountainous scenery with its serene lakes, with your nearest and dearest.
Discover Holiday Homes in Snowdonia
3. St Ives, Cornwall: Celebrate the New Year by the Coast
If you love to be by the seaside, why not book a charming fisherman’s cottage or a coastal cottage and head to St Ives in Cornwall for New Year? St Ives has a great reputation as one of the best places to be in Cornwall for New Year’s Eve. Expect street parties and plenty of fun, with fun themes for fancy dress, plus fireworks down by the harbour. Watch the fireworks light up the sky over the sea. Take it easy on New Year’s day and figure out all those New Year’s resolutions, with a relaxing stroll along Newquay’s beautiful beach.
4. Lake District, Relax and Unwind in a Serene Setting at New Year’s
If you are in search of a more relaxed vibe this New Year, how about booking a break in England’s stunning Lake District? Book a holiday home with a warming woodburner or an open fire, and mull over those New Year’s resolutions by the warmth of the fire. Cosy up and enjoy New Year’s Eve with your nearest and dearest, for an intimate quiet celebration, in a stunning landscape. Remember to pack the champagne!
On New Year’s day itself, explore the stunning scenery of the Lake District with its fells and lakes. Walk, hike or cycle in this stunning landscape, and have the best of starts to the New Year.
Search Rural Retreats and Country Cottages in the Lake District
5. Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Experience Amazeballs at the Fireball Festival
For a New Year’s celebration to remember, head to the small coastal town of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Here, Hogmanay is celebrated with a mesmerising event of swinging blazing fireballs. The locals swing fireballs around their heads on a parade through the streets, which ends dramatically by the harbour. Wrap up warm in Scotland, and enjoy the visual spectacular.
On New Year’s Day, enjoy a walk out to stunning Dunnottar Castle with is impressive setting perched on cliffs.
6. London, for a World Class Fireworks Display
London with its world class fireworks, has got to be one of the very best places to be to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Expect not only fireworks displays, but amazing drone displays and music too! The best vantage points are along the River Thames, and London’s riverside restaurants get very booked up well in advance. If you are happy to splash out, booking a riverside restaurant is a good option, as is a River Cruise where you can enjoy some of the best views of the fireworks, as well as maybe dinner, drinks and entertainment.
7. Fishguard, Wales, for Wales’ Biggest Street Party
If you truly want to party at New Year’s Eve, then Fishguard in Pembrokeshire could be the perfect choice. This town is renowned to be home to Wales’ biggest New Year’s Eve party, where you can enjoy street parties galore with music, dancing, and entertainment. The coastal surroundings add a stunning backdrop to the festivities, and the event attracts both locals and visitors from across the country. Fishguard’s community spirit and picturesque location make it a unique spot to experience a traditional yet vibrant New Year’s Eve.
Search Pembrokeshire Holiday Homes
8. Brighton, Celebrate the New Year by the Seaside
For an escape to the seaside for New Year’s, along with plenty of party atmosphere, Brighton could be the perfect place to be this New Year’s. Brighton’s pubs, bars and clubs are the ideal place to party the night away. Or, for a New Year’s eve to remember, book a table at the British Airways i360’s Sky Dining, where you can dine in a glass pod with amazing views of the city, coast and fireworks. On New Year’s day enjoy a relaxing walk along the beach after all the festivities.
9. Weymouth, Dorset, Dress Up and Enjoy Fireworks by the Sea
The coastal town of Weymouth by the Dorset coast, is renowned for its New Year’s Eve fancy dress party. With street performances, fireworks and live music, this is a great place to dress up and party in a fun family-friendly celebration. On New Year’s day, enjoy walks by the beach, or head out to the Jurassic coast and discover amazing sights like Durdle Door and more.
10. Cotswolds: A Relaxing Escape
If you love the charm of beautiful English villages and towns and the finer things in life, then the English Cotswolds could be the perfect choice. Book a honey-coloured stone Cotswold cottage, and enjoy a tranquil and refined New Year’s eve celebration with your nearest and dearest, in a cosy cottage. Book a holiday home with a log burner or open fire for that warm cosy feel when the weather is cold outside. Remember to pack the champagne so that you can all enjoy a toast together at your chosen holiday home!
On New Year’s day, get out and enjoy an invigorating walk through the stunning Cotswold countryside along the Cotswolds Way, or visit one of the delightful pubs or country inns in one of the gorgeous Cotswold towns like Stow on the Wold or similar. The Cotswolds could be the perfect choice for a relax and unwind this New Year’s.
Find Rural Retreats and Country Cottages in the Cotswolds
Whether you want to party hard with friends in the city of London or Edinburgh, discover the fiery traditions of Stonehaven, gaze up at stars in Snowdonia at a quiet retreat, experience the tranquil beauty of the Lake District, or celebrate in one of England’s seaside towns, the UK offers some superb destinations to welcome in 2025.
